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Paphos Chamber Of Commerce Champions European Culinary And Wine Tourism

European Collaboration Fuels Culinary Innovation

Paphos Chamber of Commerce and Industry took part in the second meeting of the EnoGastroDest-Interreg Europe programme held in Pécs. Representatives Stefanos Hadjioannou and Natasa Demetriou joined discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in wine and gastronomy tourism across European regions. Participation in the programme brings together 11 partners and supports the link between cultural heritage and tourism development.

Preserving A Rich Culinary Legacy

Discussions focused on how traditional food and wine practices can support regional tourism. Emphasis was placed on preserving local culinary identity while developing more sustainable tourism models. Wine and gastronomy tourism is increasingly viewed as a sector contributing to regional economies, particularly in areas with established wine production.

Redefining Wine And Gastronomy Tourism

Activities in this segment include wine tastings, food festivals and cooking workshops. Such formats reflect local traditions and provide visitors with direct interaction with regional products. Access to vineyards and wineries also allows visitors to observe production processes, a format that has gained traction in recent years.

Strategic Initiatives And Future Growth

Within the EnoGastroDest programme, traditional winemaking and culinary heritage are combined with newer tourism approaches. Planned activities include workshops, webinars and study visits to wineries, farms and agrotourism sites. Participants also exchange policy approaches and operational practices, with a focus on long-term development of the wine and gastronomy tourism sector.

Cyprus’ Poverty And Social Exclusion Risk Stands At 17.1%

Cyprus recorded a poverty or social exclusion risk rate of 17.1% in 2025, below the European Union average of 20.9%, according to new Eurostat figures. Across the bloc, however, more than 92 million people continued to face the risk, highlighting persistent social and economic inequalities.

More Than 92 Million People At Risk Across The EU

A total of 92.7 million people across the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, equivalent to just over one in five residents.

Cyprus is treated as a single statistical region because of its size, unlike many member states divided into multiple regions for comparison. Its national figure therefore provides an overall picture but does not capture differences between districts or communities.

Regional Gaps Remain Stark Across Europe

The risk varied considerably across the EU, with the highest rates concentrated largely in southern, eastern and outermost regions. In 24 of the 243 regions with available data, at least 31.5% of the population faced poverty or social exclusion.

These regions were located in Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France and Romania, as well as Brussels in Belgium and Bremen in north-western Germany.

French Guiana recorded the highest rate, at 54.8%, followed by Calabria in southern Italy at 45.3% and Sicily at 44%. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, recorded 43.7%, while Réunion, another French outermost region, stood at 42.3%.

Central Europe Records The Lowest Rates

At the other end of the scale, 24 regions reported poverty or social exclusion risk rates below 13% in 2025. These included five eastern EU capital regions: Bratislava in Slovakia, Warsaw in Poland, Prague in the Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary and Zagreb in Croatia.

Other regions with low rates were concentrated in northern Italy, the Czech Republic, northern Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Austria, illustrating the uneven distribution of economic security across Europe.

Cyprus Remains Below The EU Average

Cyprus’ rate of 17.1% places it below the EU average, although it remains higher than the levels recorded in the bloc’s lowest-risk regions.

The figures suggest that Cyprus performs relatively well compared with the wider EU, but poverty and social exclusion remain significant challenges across the bloc, affecting more than 92 million people.

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